The heritage of Mata Aver
unique flora and fauna: Perlis ruler wants forest to be ecotourism destination
SHARANPAL SINGH RANDHAWA
PADANC BESAR sharanpalgpnst.com.my
THE Forest Research Institute of Malaysia station in Mata Ayer here should be trans
formed into an ecotourism site.
Raja of Perlis Tuanku Syed Sir
ajuddin Syed Putra Jamalullail said yesterday the site was unique and significant as 121ha of its total 455ha had plants from parts of northern Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah, Thailand, Indonesia, India, Papua New Guinea and Myanmar.
He said the site should also be
recognised as a heritage based on this uniqueness and significance, adding that it could help boost eco
tourism in the state.
Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin also hoped more articles could be pro
duced, published and widely dis
tributed to highlight the various tourist at
tractions in Perlis,
adding that govern j
ment and the private sector should alsocontribute towards this effort.
The ruler was speaking at a celebra
tion to mark World Environment Day.
Themed "Green
Economy — Does it include you?", the
event also saw Tuanku Syed Sir
ajuddin sign a Malaysia Book of
Records certificate issue to FRIM for the "Largest Teak Clone Col
lection in Malaysia".
The Mata Ayer FRIM station has various ecotourism attractions and facilities to offer to visitors, including a camping site which can accommodate up to 100 people, com
plete with a dining area, open stage and public toilets.
The station also has
a 100m canopy walk
way at about 7m above ground level for sci
entific studies and ob
servation of flora and fauna, a teak gallery, a fiveroom guesthouse, a log cabin and two hostels which can accom
modate some 24 guests.
Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin ap
plauded the efforts of FRIM for having 71 cultivated varieties of
teak from the best selection of local trees ready for commercialisation, making the centre the largest col
lection of local teak varieties in the country.
Present at the event were Raja Muda of Perlis Tuanku Syed Faizuddin Putra Jamalullail, Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Md Isa Sabu, Deputy National Resources and Environment Minister Tan Sri Joseph Kurup and FRIM director
general Prof Datuk Dr Abdul Latif
Mohmod.
In December last year, when Deputy Tourism Minister Datuk Dr
James Dawos Mamit visited the centre, he had said Perlis had the potential to become an eco
tourism hub.
"Highlight the
various tourist attractions in
Perlis."
Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin Syed Putra Jamalullail
Raja of Perlis Headline The heritage of Mata Ayer
MediaTitle New Straits Times
Date 15 Jun 2012 Color Black/white
Section Local News Circulation 136,530
Page No 24 Readership 330,000
Language English ArticleSize 182 cm²
Journalist Sharanpal Singh Randhawa AdValue RM 2,957
Frequency Daily PR Value RM 8,870
